DIY Piggy Bank Gift Boxes

This Halloween-themed board game is as much fun to create as it is to play.

You can make it by yourself, but it’s also a fun collaborative project for the whole family. The basic instructions are provided, but be sure to add some personal touches too. Try incorporating some photos of last year’s Halloween party or any other favorite Halloween pictures.

To get started, gather several coordinating sheets and scraps of Halloween-themed paper. Small patterns work well.

Cut the paper into smaller squares and rectangles and collage them on a 24” x 30” sheet of chipboard or matt board to create the background for your game. Use your favorite paper glue to attach these pieces to the board.

Next, punch out the following:

40 – 50 squares (in a solid colors and Halloween paper)

5 – 7 circles (3 in orange card stock, the rest in a Halloween paper)

3 hats

15 squirrels

15 crows

8 – 10 leaves

Take three orange circles and punch out a face using your Laughing Jack punch. Glue the jack-o-lanterns down in the bottom right corner of your game board, and add their hats. Add a border using the Happy Jacks Border Punch.

Next, take your squares and circles and lay out your path. Let the path meander, covering as much of the board as possible. Trim a corner off a square to make bend in your path. Circles work well as corners, too. End the path with a large circle.

Once you’re satisfied with your path, carefully glue all the pieces down. Randomly glue down a few squirrels, leaves, and crows on the squares. In the remaining squares and circles, add a few Halloween stickers.

Embellish your board using any Halloween stamps or stickers you have on hand.

Use your punched leaves to create a “leaf pile” on your game path. The Leaf Pile should be placed somewhere within the first third of the path. Adhere the leaves with dimensional adhesive dots.

Next, make the game cards. You’ll be making two sets – one squirrel set and one crow set - and you can use your paper trimmer to cut them into 3” x 4” rectangles. Print them from your computer, or write each card by hand.

Each card will have instruction to move ahead or move back in the game. Below are a few ideas to get you started. Have fun writing your own and customizing the cards.

Neighbors are passing out full-sized candy bars, advance 3 spaces.

Your trick-or-treat bag has a hole! Go back five spaces to pick up the pieces you dropped.

Go jump in the leaf pile and lose your turn.

Scared by zombies! Go back 4 spaces.

The lights are on but no one’s home. Skip ahead two spaces.

Someone smashed your pumpkin! Go back to the patch.

When you’re done adding text to your cards, on the front of each glue either a squirrel or a crow.

Create three little flags using a scrap of cardstock, glue, and a toothpick. Label them “pumpkin patch”, “leaf pile” and “home”. Use a candy pumpkin as a stand and insert the toothpick into the stem.

Next, trim a candy/nut cup . You can attach a chenille handle with hot-glue, add a few punched Halloween shapes or borders, stick on some stickers and then fill the cup with candy.

Now, it’s time to set up the game! Place your pumpkin flags in their appropriate spots, stack your squirrel and crow cards in the corners, put your candy cup on the “home” space. Select a few candies to use as came pieces – candy corn, eye balls or gummy bugs work great.

The instructions to the game are simple – just roll the dice and move ahead.

If you land on a leaf, you’re sent back to the leaf pile. If you land on a squirrel or crow, take the appropriate card, and follow the instructions on the card.

The first one to “home’ wins the candy prize waiting there. Play a few rounds refilling the cup each time, so everyone has a chance to win. You can always do a sugar-free version of the game too by using spider rings, Halloween erasers or tattoos as prizes.